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How can meditation cure stress in young adults

How can meditation cure stress in young adults
Stress and depression are the biggest ailments troubling the youth. However, what we need is to develop the capacity to handle negative stress, writes Master Shiv

TNN | Updated: Sep 11, 2018, 12:25 IST

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Stress and depression are the biggest ailments troubling the youth. However, what we need is to develop the capacity to handle negative stress, writes Master Shiv
World Health Organisation's definition of health, as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, captures the broad tenets of wellness. Globally, stress and depression are the top causes of illness and disability among youth. Suicide ranks second among the main causes of death in young adults. At its worst, stress and depression can lead to suicide. This is also one of the biggest challenges faced by students in India. Recognizing stress and depression at an early stage is critical for reducing mental and physiological breakdown in youth.

The factors that contribute to high risk are lack of sleep, poor eating habits, inadequate exercise. All this encompass an ideal combination for depression to set in. Day-to-day challenges such as managing the peer pressure, high cost of education, propensity to land a decent job after education and failed relationships also force youth to remain stressed.

Unfortunately, despite attempts to create awareness, societal stigma is associated with stress and depression in the youth. This results in the youth or their family members to accept this as a medical problem, thereby debarring them from looking for solutions or going in for counselling. To eradicate this extremely crippling phenomenon.

Implications of stress

A survey shows that globally, a substantial percentage of today's youth is suffering from some form of stress and depression. A Yale University research says stress and depression reduce the area of our brain responsible for self-control, thus reducing our coping ability. This affects the cardiovascular system leading to hypertension, which dramatically increases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure, which is proven by crippling illnesses among youth. Moreover, it also impacts the digestive system causing bowel problems. However, the effect is reversed once stress & depression is handled.

What is mindful meditation

Mindful Meditation is a unique technique where one is not directed at getting us to be different from how we already are. Instead, it helps us become aware of what is already true, moment by moment. It teaches us how to be unconditionally present; i.e. it helps us to connect with whatever is happening around us, no matter what it is.

If breathing is good, which it is, then paying attention to breathing pattern as a phenomenon has unprecedented powers and how that can be attained by youth is what should be the focus. This is proven after extensive research into investigating the benefits of Mindful Meditation -- a practice in which one sits quietly while focusing on one's breathing and body.

The technique helps us to analyse the past, foresee the future and plan the present while addressing the physiological and psychological aspects of individuals, initially, and in advanced stages, the group. Focussed, rhythmic monosyllabic vibrations, when internalized can create the rise of positive energy, thereby reducing toxins, the main cause of stress and depression.

Is stress bad?

Well, not really. Imagine, if students do not have any pressure to achieve higher grades in examinations, no one would excel in academics. What we should clearly understand is that the aim should be to manage the negative stress. It is the negative stress, which is harmful and augmenting positive stress is the key to success for all individuals, and more so for the youth. Not many people know that there are two types of stress-health and unhealthy. Healthy stress levels can have dramatic results and can push you to peak performance. The stress that causes anxiety and health problems are a bad stress.

In this process, one does not judge thoughts that arise but merely observe them. The practice helps to 'be here and now'. Stefan Hoffman, from Boston University's Centre for Anxiety and Related Disorders, when talking about meditation in addressing psychological disorders says, "I was sceptical at first. I wondered, 'Why on Earth should this work?' But it seems to work quite well."

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